Do You Have a ‘FOMO Baby’? Expert Reveals Why They Struggle to Sleep

The world is an exciting place for a baby and sometimes they don’t want to miss out on a single moment. However, this can be a little inconvenient for parents when it’s time for bed. Enter the “FOMO baby”—a little one who struggles to sleep due to an intense curiosity about their surroundings.
But why do FOMO babies find it so hard to drift off to sleep and what’s the reason behind this growing trend online?
The term FOMO, or fear of missing out, typically refers to adults who worry about missing out on social events and experiences. But parents are now using the term to describe their babies who seem to share the same fear—missing out on anything that happens around them.
It’s a trend that’s gaining traction on TikTok, with many parents relating to the challenges—and highlights—of raising a child who’s highly curious.
Christina Storey, a mom from Northamptonshire in the United Kingdom, shared her experience with her baby Margot on the social media platform.
In Storey’s TikTok clip, Margot refuses to go to sleep during a walk with her parents.
“My husband and I wanted to get our nearly 4-month-old daughter to sleep, so put her in her [stroller] and took her out for a walk. Rather than sleep, however, she spent the whole time staring around her ‘inspecting’ the trees and buildings,” the 36-year-old told Newsweek.
To Storey who goes by @margsandme on TikTok, a “FOMO baby” encapsulates Margot’s personality.
“She has always been, what I affectionately call, a nosy baby, and from a few weeks old was interested in everything going on around her,” she added.
Chandler Cringer, known as @chandler.cringer on TikTok, is another mom who found herself with a “FOMO baby.” In her clip, she posted the reality of rocking her baby to sleep, only for him to be easily distracted by everything around him.
Similar to Storey, the definition of a “FOMO baby” to Cringer is a very curious little one.
“FOMO stands for fear of missing out, so my baby wants to always be involved; always know what’s going on around him, and genuinely very curious,” she told Newsweek.
While a “FOMO baby” is not an established scientific term, infant sleep consultant and founder and CEO of Just Chill Mama Ltd. Rosey Davidson acknowledged that it’s a trend that’s gaining traction on social media.
“You might have seen TikTok videos where parents are desperately trying to get their babies to sleep, only to have the baby wide-eyed, staring at every passing car, person, or pet. These are classic FOMO babies,” Davidson told Newsweek.
Frida Rångtell, PhD, sleep educator and scientific adviser at Napper, an app that helps babies sleep better, agreed that a “FOMO baby” seems to be very eager to hold on to wakefulness, to interact and to learn.
The rise in the topic on social media brings comfort and a sense of community among parents: “I think that relating our situation to others can make it easier to cope and to get the feeling ‘it’s not only my baby, I’m not alone in this,'” Rångtell said.
FOMO babies are often highly alert and can find it difficult to settle due to the strong interest in their surroundings.
“This might mean longer bedtime routines, more frequent nighttime wakeups, and a lot of frustration,” Davidson added.
It’s important to remember that while FOMO babies may be more curious and engaged, they still need sleep just as much as any other baby.
For parents with a “FOMO baby,” Rångtell recommended getting to know your baby’s sleep patterns. A good night’s sleep also starts in the morning.
“To strengthen the baby’s circadian rhythm, expose them to daylight during the day and reduce light exposure at night [to] help improve their sleep,” Rångtell told Newsweek.
While having a “FOMO baby” may mean parents get less rest, Storey observed that her baby loves the new world she’s in.
On the back of her TikTok video, she told Newsweek many parents shared that their “FOMO baby” grew into “why?” toddlers—”ones that ask questions all the time and inquisitive children,” Storey said.
“I love that and can’t wait for Margot to grow and start asking questions,” she added.